Blueberry plant named ‘MG07876-15-003’

ABSTRACT

The new blueberry plant variety ‘MG07876-15-003’ is provided. ‘MG07876-15-003’ is a commercial variety intended for the fresh fruit market. The variety is produced from a cross of ‘Elliott’ and ‘Caroline’, which can be distinguished by its outstanding features.

Latin name of the genus and species:

Genus—Vaccinium.

Species—hybrid.

Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the varietydenominated ‘MG07876-15-003’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The proposed new variety ‘MG07876-15-003’ was selected as a seedlingfrom a controlled pollination involving northern highbush varieties‘Elliott’ (seed parent) (not patented) and ‘Caroline’ (pollen parent)(not patented). The cross was made in 2007 in Moondarra, Victoria,Australia and the plant was selected in 2011 amongst a population ofseedlings from the cross grown in Moondarra, Victoria, Australia. Thisnew cultivar has been asexually propagated through cuttings since 2011and grown in replicated field trials from 2014 in Moondarra, Victoria,Australia.

The plants of the proposed new variety ‘MG07876-15-003’ are strong andvigorous and self-fertile while the berries are large and firm with amoderate to good bloom, sweet flavor and a small dry scar.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The proposed new Vaccinium hybrid cultivar denominated ‘MG07876-15-003’resulted from a cross between ‘Elliott’ and ‘Caroline’.

The seed parent was produced by ‘Burlington’ (not patented) and ‘US1’(not patented) and was selected based on its vigor, late fruit ripening,high yields and medium sized, frim berries with a strong flavor andbloom.

The pollen parent was produced from open pollinated ‘Lateblue’ (notpatented) seeds sent to the Knoxfield Horticultural Research Institutein Victoria, Australia in 1976, and was selected based on its mediumtiming of fruit ripening, strong aromatic flavor, medium firmness andmoderate bush vigor.

The proposed new variety ‘MG07876-15-003’ is a selection from seedlingsproduced from a controlled pollination between ‘Elliott’ and ‘Caroline’in the breeding program at Moondarra, Victoria, Australia in 2007.

Asexual reproduction of the proposed new variety by cutting propagationhas occurred since 2011 at Moondarra, Victoria, Australia. This hasdemonstrated that the new variety is uniform, stable and true to typeover successive generations of asexual propagation in respect to thecharacteristics aforementioned.

The proposed new cultivar ‘MG07876-15-003’ was selected as a singleplant in a population of seedlings resulting from a cross between thetwo northern highbush varieties previously described, selected in 2011at Moondarra, Victoria, Australia. The selection was based upon its lateperiod of fruit ripening, strong plant vigor and large, firm fruit witha moderate to good bloom, sweet flavor and small dry picking scar. Thenew cultivar was given the breeder code ‘5P-15-3’ and evaluated intrials from 2014 to be later denominated ‘MG07876-15-003’.

The following characteristics of the proposed new variety have beenobserved and used to distinguish ‘MG07876-15-003’ as a distinct cultivarof Vaccinium hybrid:

-   -   Round-upright/whippy growth habit.    -   Late timing of flowering.    -   Very late timing of fruit ripening.    -   Strong plant vigor.    -   Large berry size.    -   Small, dry picking scar    -   Berry firmness is firm.

The new variety differs from the seed parent ‘Elliott’ as previouslydescribed in terms of having later timing of fruit ripening and largerberry size. ‘MG07876-15-003’ differs from pollen parent ‘Caroline’ inrespect to its later fruit ripening, firmer berries, larger berry sizeand stronger vigor. The proposed new variety ‘MG07876-15-003’ isuniform, stable and true to type over successive generations of asexualpropagation through softwood cuttings in respect to the characteristicsaforementioned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens infull color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘MG07876-15-003’.The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a colorrepresentation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘MG07876-15-003’,demonstrating the plant's upright growth habit at approximately 6 yearsof age.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety ‘MG07876-15-003’at approximately 6 years of age.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety‘MG07876-15-003’ at approximately 6 years of age.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited inthe detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of thenew blueberry.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘MG07876-15-003’. The data which defines thesecharacteristics was collected from asexual reproductions of the originalselection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics areapproximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. Theplant history was taken on plants approximately 3 years of age, and thedescriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Moondarra, Victoria,Australia. Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruitgrown in Moondarra, Victoria, Australia. Color designations are fromPantone Color Bridge plus.

-   Classification:    -   -   a. Family.—Ericaceae.        -   b. Genus.—Vaccinium.        -   c. Species.—hybrid.        -   d. Common name.—Blueberry.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘Elliott’ (not patented).        -   Male parent.—‘Caroline’ (not patented).-   Market class: A fruiting plant intended for the fresh fruit market.

PLANT

-   General:    -   -   a. Parentage.—‘Elliott’ x ‘Caroline’.        -   b. Plant height.—0.9-1.2 m.        -   c. Plant width.—˜0.7-0.8 m.        -   d. Growth habit.—Upright/whippy.        -   e. Growth (vigor).—Strong to very strong.        -   f. Productivity.—Medium to high (˜6.6 kg/plant).        -   g. Cold hardiness.—Not tested.        -   h. Cold tolerance.—Not tested.        -   i. Chilling requirement.—Not tested.        -   j. Tolerance to disease.—Not tested.        -   k. Leafing.—Strong to very strong.        -   l. Twigginess.—Moderate.

STEM

-   General:    -   -   a. Suckering tendency.—7-8/plant.        -   b. Mature cane color.—165A/161D-164C.        -   c. Mature cane length.—˜0.9 m.        -   d. Mature cane width.—1.1 cm.        -   e. Bark texture.—Medium roughness.        -   f. Fall color on new shoots.—N/A.        -   g. Surface texture of new wood.—Smooth.        -   h. Internode length on strong, new shoots.—˜20 mm.        -   i. Fruiting wood.—Up to 18 cm in length.

FOLIAGE

-   General:    -   -   a. Time of beginning of leaf bud burst.—Approximately            mid-October.        -   b. Leaf color (top side).—135B/137A.        -   c. Leaf color (under side).—145B/138D.        -   d. Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   e. Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   f. Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   g. Undulation of margin.—Weak.        -   h. Leaf venation.—Reticulate.        -   i. Leaf apices.—Acute.        -   j. Leaf bases.—Obtuse.        -   k. Leaf length.—66-79 mm.        -   l. Leaf width.—35-38 mm.        -   m. Leaf length/width ratio.—Medium; 1:0.53-1:0.48.        -   n. Leaf nectarines.—Absent.        -   o. Pubescence of upper side.—Absent.        -   p. Pubescence of lower side.—Absent.        -   q. Cross sectional profile.—Flat.        -   r. Longitudinal profile.—Straight.        -   s. Attitude.—Semi-upright.-   Petioles:    -   -   a. Length.—4-6 mm.        -   b. Width.—1.5 mm.        -   c. Color.—Yellow-Green 144D.

FLOWERS

-   General:    -   -   a. Time of beginning of flowering.—19^(th) October.        -   b. Time of 50% anthesis.—27^(th) October.        -   c. Flower shape.—Urceolate.        -   d. Flower bud density.—Moderate to high.        -   e. Flower fragrance.—Weak; sweet smell.-   Corolla:    -   -   a. Length.—11-13 mm.        -   b. Width.—5-6 mm.        -   c. Aperture width.—Approximately 5 mm.        -   d. Anthocyanin coloration of corolla.—Absent.        -   e. Corolla ridges.—Present.        -   f. Protrusion of stigma.—Absent.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   a. Length.—˜26 mm.        -   b. Diameter.—˜35-40 mm.        -   c. Surface texture of peduncle.—Smooth.        -   d. Surface texture of pedicel.—Smooth.        -   e. Color of pedicel.—146C/144A.        -   f. Number of flowers per cluster.—Approximately 8-10.        -   g. Flower cluster density.—Moderate.-   Calyx (with sepals):    -   -   a. Diameter.—6-7 mm.        -   b. Color (sepals).—176C/145B.-   Stamen:    -   -   a. Length.—7-8 mm.        -   b. Number per flower.—Approximately 10.        -   c. Filament color.—145D/142C.        -   d. Style length.—8-9 mm.        -   e. Color.—N144A/C.-   Style:    -   -   a. Length.—8-9 mm.        -   b. Color.—N144A/C.-   Pistil:    -   -   a. Length.—11-12 mm.        -   b. Ovary color (exterior).—144A/135B.-   Anther:    -   -   a. Length.—4-5 mm.        -   b. Number.—Approximately 10.        -   c. Color.—165B.-   Pollen:    -   -   Self-compatibility.—Yes (100%).

FRUIT

-   General:    -   -   a. Time of fruit ripening.—Very late; February to March in            Moondarra, Victoria, Australia.        -   b. Time of 50% maturity.—Late February.        -   c. Fruit development period.—Approximately 90-100 days.        -   d. Cluster density.—˜24 berries per cluster.        -   e. Unripe fruit color.—N144D.        -   f. Ripe berry color.—203C.        -   g. Berry surface wax abundance.—Moderate.        -   h. Berry flesh color.—145D.        -   i. Berry weight.—1.5-2.5 g.        -   j. Berry height from calyx to scar.—12-15 mm.        -   k. Berry diameter.—18-20 mm.        -   l. Berry shape.—Oblate.        -   m. Fruit stem scar.—Small, dry.        -   n. Sweetness when ripe.—Medium.        -   o. Firmness when ripe.—Firm.        -   p. Acidity when ripe.—Low to medium.        -   q. Storage quality.—Good.        -   r. Suitability for mechanical harvesting.—N/A.        -   s. Self-fruitfulness.—Yes.        -   t. Uses.—Fresh fruit.        -   u. Type.—On one-year-old shoots only.

SEED

-   General:    -   -   a. Seed abundance in fruit.—Moderate.        -   b. Seed color.—167A/164A.        -   c. Seed length.—˜1 mm.

COMPARISON BETWEEN COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS ‘Ridley 0808’ ‘Brigitta’ (U.S.Plant ‘MG07876- (not Pat. No. Organ Context 15-003’ patented) 31,074)Plant Vigor Strong Medium Strong Plant Growth habit Semi- UprightUpright upright One-year- Color Green Green Green old shoot One-year-Length of Medium Medium Medium old shoot internode to long Leaf LengthLong; 66-79 Long Medium to long Leaf Width Broad Broad Broad Leaf ShapeElliptic Elliptic Elliptic Leaf Color of upper Green; Green Green side135B/137A Leaf Intensity of green Light- Medium Medium color on uppermedium side (varieties with green leaf color only) Leaf Margin EntireSerrate Entire Flower Anthocyanin Medium- Medium- Medium bud colorationstrong strong Flower Shape of corolla Urceolate Urceolate UrceolateFlower Size of corolla Medium Medium Medium tube Flower AnthocyaninAbsent or Absent or Absent or coloration of very very very corolla tubeweak weak weak Flower Ridges on corolla Present Present Present tubeFruit Density Dense Medium- Medium cluster dense Unripe Intensity ofgreen Light- Light Light fruit color medium; N144D Fruit Size Large;Medium Medium 18-20 mm to large Fruit Shape in longi- Oblate OblateOblate tudinal section Fruit Attitude of sepals Erect Erect Erect FruitDiameter of calyx Small- Small- Large to basin medium medium very largeFruit Depth of calyx Medium- Deep Deep basin deep Fruit Intensity ofbloom Medium Medium Strong Fruit Color of skin Dark blue; Dark blue Darkblue 203C Fruit Firmness Firm Medium Very firm Fruit Sweetness Medium-Low- Very high high medium Fruit Acidity Low- Low- Medium medium mediumto high Time of Vegetative bud Late Medium Medium burst to late Time ofBeginning of Late Medium Medium flowering to late Time of Beginning ofVery late Medium Medium fruit ripening to late

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blueberryplant named ‘MG07876-15-003’, substantially as illustrated and describedherein.